Burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS), a painful disorder affecting mostly women, is a constant and aggravating source of discomfort for more than 1 million adults.

Patients' experience a burning sensation in their mouth, palate, lips and tongue, as well as partial or complete loss of taste, dry mouth and thirst.

New findings explain how anxiety and depression may be a precursor that triggers this difficult-to-diagnose syndrome, according to a new report that will be published in the September/October 2003 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Oral habits of anxiety and depression may include repetitive tongue thrusting and bruxism (teeth grinding) which can irritate the mouth and lips and have been reported to cause BMS symptoms in up to 70 percent of patients suffering from this chronic disorder.

"Pinpointing the pain source can be a trying task for patients and their health care providers," explains Andres Pinto, DMD, lead report author, who states more females in their 20's and 30's are also experiencing this syndrome, oftentimes due to stress.

"If you have BMS, analyze your overall health and note any life-altering events or stressors that occur," encourages Lois Duerst, DDS, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD.

According to Dr. Pinto, some patients experience relief after stopping their oral habits brought on by stress.

Do You Have BMS? Check For:

Burning sensations in mouth area

Dry mouth

Altered taste perception

Changes in eating habits

Irritability

Depression

Changes in medications

Possible Treatments:

Antifungal therapy

Vitamin and mineral replacements

Creams or lozenges containing capsaicin

Hormonal replacement

Antidepressants

Mental health counseling

Intraoral appliances

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